For No. XXIII. 1734. Art. XXII. A N Enquiry whether the THEATRE may be made a SCHOOL proper for forming the Mind to Virtue. Deliver din an Oration,Spoke the 13th of March 1733, in the Jefuits College, founded by Lewis XIV. in Paris. By Charles Porée, a Jefuit. 42 I Art. XXIII. A second Extract of Sir ISAAC NEWTON'S Obfervations upon the Prophecies of DANIEL and the Apocalypfe of ST. JOHN. (See the first Abstract in No. XXI. Article 13. P. 245.) 434 Art. XXIV. Introduction to the Hiftoria Litteraria, particularly relating to the Bible or facred Authors among the Sclavonians. By JOHN PETER KOHLIUS, Profeffor of the Ecclefiaftical History and Belles Lettres in the University of Petersburg. 476 Art. XXV. A Second Abstract of Mr. FOSTER'S Sermons on various Subjects. (See the first in Num. XXII. Art. 19. P. 337.) 490 LITTERARIA. ARTICLE XXII. THEATRUM fit ne, vel effe poffit SCHOLA informandis moribus idonea? ORATIO, habita die 13 Martii Anno 1733, in Regio Ludovici Magni Collegio Societatis Jefu. A Carolo Porée, ejufdem Societatis Sacerdote. Lutetiæ Parifiorum, Excudebat Joannes-Baptifta Coignard Filius, Typograghus Regius, 1733. That is, An Enquiry whether the THEATRE may be made a SCHOOL proper for forming the Mind to Virtue. Deliver'd in an Oration; spoke the 13th of HIS Oration, which was spoke in prefence of Cardinal de Polignac and leveral other Perfons of the higheft Di-. ftinction, begins with obferving, that the Stage, which is a kind of Locking-Glafs for Men to No. XXIII. 1733. Gg view VOL. IV. view themselves in, has always been a Subject of great Curiofity as well as Difpute. The dramatick Mufe, fays the Author, has always had a great number of Advocates and Enemies. Athens rais'd a very magnificent Theatre, and afterwards fupprefs'd it, because of its too great Detraction, and the fame happen'd in Rome. The French Stage, which is rifen to a great height, has also been a frequent Subject of Controverfy. And in the laft Century, a great Number of very pious and learned Men appear'd in France, who were very much divided in Opinion about it. The Advocates for the Stage defended it from the Authority of Numbers, and the most venerable Names; and its Enemies oppos'd it from the Teftimonies of the Fathers, the Decrees of Councils, and the Cenfures of the Church. The Difpute rofe to a great height, not only in publick, but in private Companies. BUT what was the refult of this Conteft? that which is commonly feen in those where the Victory is doubtful, on which occafion both Parties challenge to themselves the Glory of it. However, the Stage continued, and still does upon its former foot; notwithstanding, that Divines ftill preach against it, 'tis now as much frequented as ever. What Course, fays the Author, am I to take in fo great a Difparity of Opinions? That of a Mediator, in order to reconcile both Parties. To effect this the better, I fhall divide the Oration into two Parts; in the first, I fhall fhow that the Stage is, in its own Nature, a School, proper for forming the Mind to Virtue; and in the fecond, I will prove that by our Depravity, it is not fo. I fhall not treat this Subject, either as a Divine, a Cenfor, or a Philofopher, but as an Enquirer after Truth, and a Chriftian. Then after making a Compliment to the Audience, and a fine Panegyrick on Cardinal de Polignac, &c. he proceeds to his firft HEAD. THAT School may be faid to be proper for forming the Mind to Virtue, which abounds with proper Precepts or Examples; for which reafon, History and Moral Philofophy may be rank'd in the Number of fuch; but in this view the Stage furpaffes them both. No one doubts but that the School of Philofophy, especially the ancient one, is perfectly well adapted to inculcate Virtue, as its Object is fo vaftly various; and on this occafion 'twill be found that the Stage is as fit for that Purpose, fince there is no Rank or Condition of Life which it does not undertake to inftruct, from the Peafant to the Monarch; as it exhorts to the Practice of the feveral Duties of Society, infpires a love for Virtue, and an abhorrence of Vice, and even cenfures the feveral Foibles and Follies of Mankind, whether in Drefs, Speech or Action, which moral Philofophy will not condescend to reprove. Tis plain, that the School of the Stage extends to the improvement of a great Number of Things. The Subject of its Precepts are borrowed, either from the copious Source of human Folly, from the Streams of human Prudence, or the Fountain of divine Wisdom; from the laft of which the dramatick Poet may be allowed to draw, provided he does it fparingly and with Reverence, unless the virulence of the Disease may require otherwife, for then indeed he may draw largely from thence. Gg 2 MANY 1 MANY Moralifts will poffibly think that 'tis demeaning Philofophy, to put it in competition with the Drama; but 'twill be found upon a Comparison, that the latter is more efficacious in forming the Mind to Virtue than the former. Philofophy teaches openly; Dramatick Poetry in a cunning, artful manner: The former inftructs with a magifterial Air, the latter with a foft, foothing Afpect; the former punishes our Faults with a fevere Hand, the latter corrects with Tendernefs and Humanity; Philofophy cenfures with Anger and Indignation, difputes in a copious and verbofe manner on our Duties, argues with great Subtilty on our Impulfes and Affections, is reftrain'd wholly to Precept, and never meddles with Example; but the Dramatic Mufe reproves us in a jocose way, comprizes her Inftructions in few Words, grieves for our Vices and Follies; rages, intreats, (fo moves the Affections) and teaches both by Precept and Example, and by that means agreeing not only with Philofophy, but with History, opens another School equally adapted to instruct, or to move the Paffions. If we compare the Drama with History, 'twill be found that the former is better adapted to improve the Mind. History cannot always make choice of illuftrious Examples, nor of fuch where Virtue is rewarded, and Vice punished; nor does fhe fet them in the ftrongeft,Light: but the Drama never chufes any but the most confpicuous Examples; and if the Theatric Mufe exhibits in the Beginning, Virtue perfecuted and distreffed, fhe never fails to make her victorious in the End; and the Examples fhe proposes, appear in the ftrongest and most beautiful Light. The Examples in History are barely |